RSAF F-16C/D (Fighter / Interceptor)

Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon







Role: Multirole fighter
Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin
Introduction: 17 August 1978
Status: Operational
Unit cost: F-16A/B: US$14.6 million
F-16C/D: US$18.8 million (1998)

The Republic of Singapore Air Force operates 70 F-16 Fighting Falcons, 62 of which are advanced F-16C/D block 52 aircraft.

Changi Air Base (East)
145 Squadron: 20 F-16D block 52+ (Strike)

The F-16D+ is equipped with state-of-the-art Conformal Fuel Tanks, an enhanced radar with greater detection range and improved mapping capabilities, and an improved targeting pod, which will enable the squadron to conduct precision day and night operations at a greater combat range and duration.

145 squadron is unique in the RSAF as all the aircraft are tandem seats and every mission is flown with a Pilot and WSO(FTR).

Tengah Air Base
140 Squadron: 7 F-16C (Interceptor), 5 F-16D Blk 52 (Strike)

The F16s in 140 Squadron are primarily responsible for Air Defence, Fighter Sweep and Escort and Counter Air Operations/Strategic Interdiction/Maritime Air Operations.

143 Squadron: 2 F-16C (Interceptor), 10 F-16D Blk 52 (Strike)

The Squadron now flies the single-seat C and double-seat D models of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

RSAF Black Knights (aerobatic team). 6 F-16C

Luke Air Force Base (USA)
425 FTS: 5 F-16C, 5 F-16D (Peace Carvin II F-16 Training)

Peace Carvin I

In January of 1985, the government of Singapore ordered eight F-16/79 fighters and took an option for 12 more. The F-16/79 was a cost-reduced version of the Fighting Falcon powered by the General Electric J79 turbojet rather than the F100 turbofan. In mid-1985, it became apparent that the F100-powered version would be made available, and Singapore changed its order to eight F-16A/B block 15OCU aircraft (four single-seaters and four two-seaters). This purchase was under the Peace Carvin I Foreign Military Sales program, and was intended to replace the ageing Hawker Hunters still serving with the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

Singapore took delivery of its first Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 powered F-16 (a two seater) on February 20th, 1988. Although all aircraft are block 15 models, they actually have strengthened block 30 airframes. The machines were initially delivered to Luke AFB, where the RSAF trains its F-16 pilots (see Operational Service below). Singapore also leased nine F-16A's previously used by the Thunderbirds flight demonstration team from 1993 to 1996, for training at Luke AFB, Arizona. The first F-16s were not transferred to Singapore until January 1990. Soon after delivery in 1990, two of the F-16A's were involved in a mid-air collision over the South China Sea. One of the F-16s was lost while the other made it back to base. Surprisingly, in 1994, when the Peace Carvin III order was announced, it was revealed that the F-16A/B's would be sold once the C/D's were operational. As reason it was quoted by Dr. Yeo, that it is expensive to support both the A/B and C/D's together (which is a rather strange argument since the RSAF still has the F-5S/T and the TA/A-4SU in service). A more logical solution would be to upgrade the F-16A/B's through the MLU program, which would bring the aircraft to more or less the same standards as the C/D airframes. Up to now the A/B models are still serving with the RSAF, although more C/D models have been delivered since. In December of 2004 a contract was signed between the Singapore and Thai government for the acquisition of the 7 remaining A/B airframes by the RTAF.

RSAF four-ship of the original Peace Carvin I program over the Singapore skyline. Alpha's #881 and #882 and Bravo's #885 and #887

Peace Carvin II

In 1993, Dr. Yeo Ning Hong, the Defense Minister, announced plans for 11 F-16C/D's (5 F-16C's and 6 F-16D's). In addition, he announced plans for two additional machines to replace the one lost over the South China Sea. When neighboring Malaysia ordered MiG-29N and F/A-18D aircraft, Singapore hastily reopened its fighter competition to include the F/A-18C/D. RSAF pilots were sent to China Lake to evaluate the Hornet. However, the Ministry of Defense stuck with the F-16C/D, but increased the order to 18 Block 52 machines (8 C's and 10 D's). The 1994 decision was reportedly based on price (Lockheed Martin offered a price of USD $23m). The 18 block 52 machines will be powered by the F100-PW-229 engine and will have a down rated version of the LANTIRN pod system (probably the Pathfinder/Sharpshooter combination). The aircraft are AIM-120 AMRAAM and AGM-88 Harm capable. The first of these 18 aircraft, a D-model serialled #638, was accepted by Chief of Defense Force Lt-Gen Bey Soo Khiangon on April 19th, 1998, during a rollout ceremony at Lockheed's Fort Worth facilities. Deliveries are scheduled to run until December. On August 14th, 1998, the first three Delta's and a single Charlie arrived at Tengah AB.

Lease & Buy

At the end of the F-16A training at Luke, a dozen USAF Block 52's were leased to be based at the same location for training. However, the USAF could not honor the lease as they needed the machines elsewhere. Instead, a deal was struck with Lockheed Martin to lease a dozen new-built F-16C/D Block 52's (4 Charlie-models and 8 Delta-models) with options to buy them later. The aircraft were leased for a 2.5 year period, for an estimated cost of USD $12.3m. In 1997, under Peace Carvin III, the RSAF's training capabilities in the US have expanded, including an extension of the training contract for Luke till 2018. Since it is very unlikely that LMTAS will lease aircraft for such an extended period, the RSAF has probably exercised its right to buy the 12 aircraft. The fact that LMTAS officially lists the Block 52 inventory of Singapore as 42 aircraft (12+18+12) seems to point in the same direction. Due to the fact that these aircraft were purchased directly from LMTAS, they do not fall under the normal FMS procedures and therefore do not have a Peace Carvin program number assigned to them.

Peace Carvin III

On October 29th, 1997, the government of the Republic of Singapore announced it would buy another 12 F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft, 10 C-models and 2 D-models. Delivery would start in 1999. Singapore's new F-16C/D order is worth USD $350 million, and includes besides 12 aircraft also support equipment, spare parts, training, mission equipment and other associated items. Rumor went that the order included an option for 12 more aircraft, but this never materialized. The 12 additional aircraft would be based at Cannon AFB for pilot training. On November 19th, 1997, the Pentagon said that Singapore seeks $287 million in services and support for its F-16C/D fighters including a new 20mm cannon, modifications and maintenance, training, spare parts and support equipment.

RSAF F-16D #96031 on take-off. RSAF F-16Ds are based at Cannon AFB in New Mexico for training, operated by the 428th FTS. Notice the tailband, a smaller version of the RSAF lion roundel in red on a black background.

Peace Carvin IV

On July 21st, 2000, Singapore revealed that it was up to ordering another 20 F-16s. At first it was not clear whether it would be a mix of C-models and D-models, but eventually the Singapore government decided to make it an all D-model lot. Just like the D-models from the Peace Carvin III aircraft, these will be equipped with the extended spine to accommodate an extensive ECM-suite. Deliveries of the aircraft will commence at the end of 2003. The aircraft are of the Block 52 variant, powered by the Pratt&Whitney F100-229 engine. All aircraft were received before the end of 2004.

RSAF F-16D block 52 - note the dorsal spine, the IFF antennae in front of the canopy, and the Helmet Mounted Sight sensors just above the pilots.

Specifications (F-16C Block 30)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 49 ft 5 in (14.8 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in (9.8 m)
• Height: 16 ft (4.8 m)
• Wing area: 300 ft² (27.87 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 64A204 root and tip
• Empty weight: 18,200 lb (8,270 kg)
• Loaded weight: 26,500 lb (12,000 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 42,300 lb (19,200 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofan
  • Dry thrust: 14,590 lbf (64.9 kN)
  • Thrust with afterburner: 23,770 lbf (105.7 kN)
• Alternate powerplant: 1× General Electric F110-GE-100 afterburning turbofan
  • Dry thrust: 17,155 lbf (76.3 kN)
  • Thrust with afterburner: 28,600 lbf (128.9 kN)

Performance

• Maximum speed:
  
  • At sea level: Mach 1.2 (915 mph, 1,460 km/h)
  • At altitude: Mach 2+ (1,500 mph, 2,414 km/h)
• Combat radius: 340 NM (295 mi, 550 km) on a hi-lo-hi mission with six 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs
• Ferry range: >2,100 NM (2,420 NM, 3,900 km)
• Service ceiling: >50,000 ft (15,239 m)
• Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
• Wing loading: 88.2 lb/ft² (431 kg/m²)
• Thrust / weight: For F100 engine: 0.898, For F110: 1.095

Armament

• Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan gatling gun, 511 rounds
• Rockets: 2¾ in (70 mm) CRV7
• Missiles:
  
  • Air-to-air missiles:
    • 2× AIM-7 Sparrow or
    • 6× AIM-9 Sidewinder or
    • 6× IRIS-T or
    • 6× AIM-120 AMRAAM or
    • 6× Python-4
  • Air-to-ground missiles:
    • 6× AGM-45 Shrike or
    • 6× AGM-65 Maverick or
    • 4× AGM-88 HARM
  • Anti-ship missiles:
    • 2× AGM-84 Harpoon or
    • 4× AGM-119 Penguin
• Bombs:
  
  • 2× CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition
  • 2× CBU-89 Gator mine
  • 2× CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon
  • Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser capable
  • 4× GBU-10 Paveway II
  • 6× GBU-12 Paveway II
  • 6× Paveway-series laser-guided bombs
  • 4× JDAM
  • 4× Mark 84 general-purpose bombs
  • 8× Mark 83 GP bombs
  • 12× Mark 82 GP bombs
  • B61 nuclear bomb